Molasses-mixer



'(NoModeL) VILLAVASO' 2Sheets-Sheet1.

MOLA$SES MIXER.

No. 444,470. Patented Jan. 13, 1891.

I VJTNESSES:

ATTORNEY 'mz warms PETERS Cm, moron-rum, msumuwn, n. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

'W. N. VILLAVASO.

MOLASSES MIXER.

'PatentedJan. 13,1891. 49/

W1 T NESSES ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YVILLIAM NELSON VILLAVASO, OF NE\V ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

MOLASSES-MIXER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,470, dated January 13, 1891.

Application filed December 26, 1889- Serial No. 33 2. 9'74. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM NELsoN VIL- LAVASO, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molasses- Mixers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to apparatus for man ufacturing sugar and molasses; and the purpose thereof is to provide a machine which will receive the molasses and mix the same, reducing the density thereof by means other than the use of steam or blow-ups, whereby the reddening of the molasses by direct contact with the steam, and its inversion which is produced by the steam, shall be avoided. It is my purpose, also, to provide a molasses-mixer in which the density may be reduced to any required degree by means of warm water, which is mingled with the molasses in a closed vessel or chamber and under agitation, whereby a thorough and uni form reduction is effected, the quality of the molasses improved, and the reboiling to obtain second and third sugars materially facilitated.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and. new combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and then definitely pointed out in the claims following this specification.

To enable others skilled in the art to prac tice my said invention, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken in the axial line of the shafts. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section in the line A B, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 5 is asectional plan view showing a slightly-modified construction. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on .the line E F of Fig. '5.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical casing or drum, which is cast in halves and secured together by means of bolts engaging flanges 2, the planeof division being either vertical, as shown in Fig. 1, or horizontal, as seen in Figs. etand 5. ithin the cylinder or drum are arranged beaters 3 and 4., which closely resemble screwpropellers, carried, respectively, by shafts 5 and 6. which-have bearings in stuffing-boxes 7 and in journal boxes 8, supported by brackets 9, attached to and projecting from the walls of the drum. Each of these shafts is provided with a pulley 10, whereby it may be driven from any suitable source of power.

I prefer to make one of the propellers, as 3, of a smaller size than the other, and they should be driven in different directions at a speed determined by the operator, according to circumstances.

In the top of the drum an opening 12 is formed, with which a pipe communicates, said pipe leading from the centrifugals or from a tank, as the case may be, a gate or cook being provided to regulate the flow. The molasses entering through this pipe and through the opening 12 passes out of the drum through an outlet 13, consisting of a pipe having its highest point a little above the top of the drum to insure that thelatter shall always remain filled. A drain-valve 14 is placed in the bottom of the drum to empty it and permit the interior to be washed.

Penetrating the top of the drum 1 is a pipe 15, whichdrops vertically in the interior to or nearly to tthe lower side of the said drum. This pipe is provided with a cook 16, and the portion which extends within the drumis provided with perforations or openings 17, through which warm water may flow when the cook 16 is opened. When water is admitted to the drum in this manner, itis speedily and uniformily mingled with the molasses by the action of the propeller-blades 3 and 4, and the fine grains of sugar remaining in the molasses are speedily and entirely melted.

I may construct the drum as shown in Figs. 5 and (5, wherein it is shown of oblong form. In this construction the shafts 18, carrying the propellers 19 and 20, are continued directl y through the drum, as seen in Fig. 5, and two parallel continuous shafts are employed, one in each end of the drum, in place of two separate shafts, as shown in Fig. 2. Thisform of mixer is much more oapacious than the cy- 1i ndrical drum and is constructed in substantially the same manner, being provided with a molasses-inlet 21 and an outlet 22, with a drain-cock 23 in its bottom. The warm-water pipe 24 is inserted through the top of the drn n1 and drops nearly to the bottom thereof, being provided with openings 25 for the water. The drum of whatever form may be supported by legs 26.

By this invention the density of the molasses can be varied by simply opening the warm-water pipe 22. IIeretofore this result has been accomplished by means of apparatus generally known under the name of blowups, which consists of open tanks containing perforated steam-coils. Steam, being thrown into the coils, comes into direct contact with the molasses and condenses the water mingling with it. The direct contact of the steam, however, reddens the molasses and causes inversion, whereas in my invention, as warm water is substituted for the steam, the quality of the molasses is improved, and there being no in version it may be reboiled for second and third sugars, and will produce much more sugar than is otherwise obtainable.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. An apparatus for treating and varying the density of molasses, consisting of a closed vessel having a pipe-connection for introducing the molasses and a pipe-connection for the discharge thereof, a pair of propellers rotating in reverse directions for agitating and mixing the molasses, and a valved perforated waterconducting pipe extending across the chamber for delivering water into the body of agitated molasses to vary the density thereof and dissolve the fine grains of sugar therein, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus for treating and varying the density of molasses, consisting of a closed vessel having a pipe-connection for introducin g the molasses and a pi pe-connection for the discharge thereof, a pair of independent revolving shafts, each carrying a propeller for agitating and mixing the molasses at dificrent points in the closed chamber, and a valved perforated water-conducting pipe extending across the chamber between the propellers for delivering water into the body of agitated m0- lasses to vary the density thereof and dissolve the fine grains of sugar therein, substantially as described. a

3. An apparatus for treating and varying the density of molasses, consisting of aclosed vessel having a pipe-connection for introducing the molasses and a pipe-connection forthe discharge thereof, a pair of independent shafts revolving in reverse directions and each carrying a propeller for agitating and mixing the molasses at different points in the closed chamber, and a valved perforated water-conducting pipe extending across the chamber be tween the propellers for delivering water into the body of agitated molasses to vary the density thereof and dissolve the fine grains of sugar therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub-,

scribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM NELSON VILLAVASO. Witnesses:

W. H. CooK, ROBERT Rms. 

